Whether you’re new to the area or you’ve lived around DFW all your life, I think we all can appreciate the diversity of neighborhoods North Texas offers. From quaint downtown areas to sprawling subdivisions, there is truly something for everyone. So you might ask, “What makes this home so special?” or “Why is this the home for me?” The answer is quite easy for Jackie Dorbritz of Dallas Golf Homes to explain.
“It’s the town. Melissa is a one-of-a-kind gem in this area. It brings more than small-town charm to its residents. Since you’re just minutes away from all of the amenities of Dallas (or Frisco, McKinney, and Prosper too), you’re able to build a full, well-balanced life you can really enjoy.”
This gorgeous home at 2314 Houston Drive is on an interior lot of Liberty, one of the best developments currently in Collin County. Just like their website says, life in Liberty is “where small-town traditions are a way of life.” If you’re new to the concept of small towns, let me share a few attributes that most small towns share:
- As a whole, they embrace their uniqueness. From school mascots to a favorite mom-and-pop shop, the community has a real sense of identity.
- Neighbors share lots of time together. Typically the kids that go to school together are also in the same Boy Scout troops and on the same little league teams. Plus parents can bond at the PTA, at a neighbor’s night out, and then in line at the grocery store.
- It’s easy to get involved in the community and support lots of local causes.
- There is typically less crime and a lower cost of living.
- The air is a little fresher, the nights are a little quieter, the stars shine a little brighter, and the grass is a little greener (yes, literally but typically just because there is more of it to be found!).
So Liberty is bringing many beloved aspects of a larger development to the incredible town of Melissa. They have combined beautiful and wide open spaces with resort-style pools, stocked ponds, sports pavilions, and playgrounds. There are three home builders to choose from: K. Hovnanian Homes, Perry Homes, and Highland Homes. With homes from the $500s-$900s and a low tax rate of 2.277%, a home in Liberty is both alluring and affordable.
When it comes to young and growing families, Melissa ISD is an above-average district. It features one high school (home of the Cardinals!) and one middle school. There are two elementary schools, but the excellent Harry McKillop Elementary School is located on-site within the Liberty community and welcomes 700 students each day. More than 90% of teachers in Melissa ISD have been teaching for more than 3 years and a 99% high school graduation rate.
When we met to tour this property on Houston Drive, the initial walk-up was quite inviting. The front yard landscaping is vibrant and welcoming. The stone-edged flower beds pair perfectly with the tones in the brick and garage doors. Front entry to the garage is also nice; easy access without an alley is a bonus!
Upon entering, just to your left, you will find two bedrooms (each with a walk-in closet) and a full bath. One is currently being used as a bedroom for kiddos and the second is a nursery, but other potential uses here could include using at least one of the rooms as an office, gym, or playroom space.
This is a single-story home but the layout provides for so many specific spaces in the 2,455 square feet. If you follow the foyer down to the main living area, just before you see where you would do most of your cooking, eating, and living, you’ll find a distinguished office space. Also perfect for homework or homeschooling, we all realize how necessary a dedicated space is for those times when work is unavoidable. This neighborhood might often remind you that there is more to life than email and zoom calls, but sometimes duty calls.
The kitchen, dining, and seating areas are all connected in this open living space. With room for a full dining table and a breakfast nook, plus a granite island large enough for in-kitchen seating, you’ll have lots of space to host family and new friends - and old friends might just want to join too! The walk-in pantry provides plenty of storage and the double oven, large refrigerator and dishwasher are sure to make everything from prep to clean up a breeze.
Relaxing is often the very next thing on our minds if we’ve been entertaining and enjoying this life and again, this open concept makes that easy to do. Cozy up around the stylishly simple stone fireplace (with gas log and starter). While these open rooms have tons of natural light from lots of windows on the south and west walls, nothing says, “Share the warmth” like a glowing hearth. Can’t you just imagine the holidays here!?
For the Owner retreat in the rear of the house, it’s the ensuite bath that steals the show. A garden tub, dual sinks, dual vanities, and great lighting may sound expected, but it’s the surprisingly secluded shower that makes this truly feel like a place you can embrace peace and quiet. A walk-in closet completes the Master and is chocked full of potential!
There is one more bonus room here in the back of the house. This is the perfect place to enjoy movies, sporting events, and video games. Really, whatever types of media your family enjoys, having a space dedicated to technology is a game-changer. Get ready to enjoy your entertainment again!
Lastly, let’s step to enjoy the outdoors on our home tour. In the backyard, accessed by a door by the breakfast nook, a small stone pathway leads to a seating area, complete with a fire pit and twinkling lights. Landscaped similarly to the front yard, the beauty is impossible to miss. Light noise is a bit less out here in the “country,” so this is the perfect place to see the stars.
If you ever tire of enjoying the small-town Southern charm of Melissa, on the occasions that you’d like to get out and explore, just remember that north Texas has an immense amount to offer. Historic Downtown McKinney is only 14 minutes away. One of the only thriving historical downtowns in Texas, this district offers more than 120 unique shops and over two dozen restaurants. Personally, we love the art galleries and furniture stores, but you cannot forget about the antique, gift, home décor, and clothing boutiques.
When you’re looking for something a bit flashier, Frisco offers The Star and Plano offers Legacy West. Some of DFW’s most fascinating stores and restaurants call these developments home. Our team loves to frequent these areas and can highly recommend:
- The Glen - Elevated Cocktails, Good Music, Finest Scotch, Whiskey & Cigars
- KĀI - Modern Asian and Sushi delights
- Legacy Hall - Legacy West’s take on a food hall, for all the times we cannot decide!
- Flea Style & Heirloom Haul - a dining and shopping concept with some of the most unique curated goods we’ve ever seen
Do you enjoy sports? Well so do MANY of your potential neighbors! North Texas is home to several major league sports teams and even more minor league teams. If golf is your thing, Melissa is just 20 minutes from TPC Craig Ranch, home of the Byron Nelson Classic each May. If you take about 30 minutes and head straight west down US Highway 380, you’ll also find the new PGA world headquarters. Still in the early development stages, their courses are set to host some major championship tournaments in the 2024 season and beyond. If you’d like to learn more about the best courses DFW has to offer (all of them within an hour of this incredible house), click here to download our EXCLUSIVE PDF - DFW Guide to Golf Courses.
If you’d like to experience a little more of the country, just head east. Bois d’Arc Lake is the first new major reservoir in Texas in nearly 30 years. The 16,641-acre lake is located northeast of the city of Bonham and while it will still be under construction for the next few years, a new era of lake life is coming to North Texas! About the same distance to the north from Melissa is Lake Texoma and the towns of Sherman and Denison. They offer more small-town charm with a few more restaurants, shops, and even a state park and museums that honor Dwight D. Eisenhower, our 34th president, who was born nearby.
If you can imagine calling this great home your own, we’d love to offer a personal tour. We here at the Jackie Dorbritz Group and Dallas Golf Homes understand and appreciate how complicated and overwhelming the home buying or selling process can be and our entire team has been privileged to help hundreds of clients navigate this process. But we also believe that there’s nothing like coming home and that all the effort always pays off! Helping you find a place to call home - one that speaks to your likes and lifestyle - is a priority for us. Let us help you have a seamless and successful experience!
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